How to Make Columns in Google Slides: A Beginner’s Guide

Google Slides makes it easy to create presentations. You may design a professional pitch, make a school project, or just bring together a quick slideshow. But when you want to arrange text or content in columns, things get sticky. Not to worry! Here, we break it down into super-simple steps. So let’s dive in and learn how to make columns in Google Slides!

Why Use Columns in Google Slides?

Columns are a neat way of organizing information. They make your slides clean, professional, and easily readable. Whether it is a comparison of two sets of data, a pros and cons listing, or creating a visually appealing layout, columns are there for you.

The problem? Google Slides doesn’t offer an “insert columns” feature like you’d find in Google Docs. But there are more creative ways to get the same effect and you might just find that they’re easier than you think!

Let’s Make Columns in Google Slides

Method 1: Use Text Boxes for Columns

One of the easiest ways to create columns in Google Slides is by using text boxes. Here’s how:

1. Open your slide: Open the Google Slide where you need to put columns.
2. Insert text box: Select the following from the top menu: “Insert” > “Text Box” and then, draw a text box on your slide.
3. Duplicate text box: Once you add one, it is easy to add another for the next column. Right-click on the text box and choose the “Duplicate” option, or “Ctrl+D” (on a Mac, it’s “Command+D”).
4. Arrange the text boxes: Drag the text boxes to place them side by side. Resize your text boxes so they perfectly fit your slide.

Pro Tip: Align your text boxes using the “Arrange” > “Align” tool to ensure they’re evenly spaced.

Method 2: Use Tables for Perfect Alignment

If you are dealing with a large amount of data or text, then tables work well for that. Here is how you do it.

1. Insert a table: Go to “Insert” > “Table” and select the number of columns and rows you need. For example, choose 2×1 for two columns with one row.
2. Resize the table: Click on the left and right edges of the table and drag to reduce the size. Position it onto your slide where you wish the columns to appear.
3. Type in your text: Click inside each column and type your content.

Using tables ensures that your columns are perfectly aligned and consistent in size, which is ideal for formal presentations.

Step 3: Divide Your Content Using Shapes  

Another creative way is using shapes. Here’s how to do it:  

1. Add shapes: Go to “Insert” > “Shape”, then pick a rectangle or another shape that best fits your slide’s theme.
2. Draw shapes: Draw two or more shapes on your slide to represent the columns. They can be any size you want but move them around on the slide so they are side by side neatly.
3. Add text: To enter content in the shapes, right-click a shape and select “Edit text” on the shortcut menu. You can then type right in each of the shapes.

If you want to add a little charm to your columns, you can just use shapes. You can even change the colors, borders, and transparency to fit your theme.

Step 4: Leverage Google Slides Templates

If you want a faster, neater way to create columns, consider using Google Slides templates. You’ll find numerous pre-designed templates already set up with column layouts. Simply find a template you like, and you’ve saved a lot of time. These are ideal for someone who is short on time or wishes to have an attractive presentation with minimal effort.

Bonus Tips for Creating Stunning Columns

• Use Visual Hierarchy: Bold the headings, use bullet points or change font sizes to make your columns easier to read.
• Stick to a Grid: Use guides in Google Slides to create a symmetrical and organized layout. You can enable guides by going to “View” > “Guides” > “Show Guides.”
• Experiment with Spacing: Leave enough white space between columns to avoid a cluttered look.

And that’s it! Creating columns in Google Slides appears to be a pretty daunting task at first, but once you know how to use text boxes or tables or shapes, it really isn’t. Do you have some sort of business presentation for work? Class project? Whatever it is, these methods will have you creating really organized, really eye-catching slides in no time.

Next time you are putting together a presentation, try these tips out and wow your audience with a flawless layout. Happy designing!